He Was A Real Hero—And Villain
Larry Hagman first rose to fame as the straight-laced astronaut Anthony “Tony” Nelson in I Dream of Jeannie. But his most iconic role was the ruthless, sinister, and sharp-witted villain JR Ewing in Dallas. His off-screen antics proved that he was both hero and villain—it just depended on who you asked.
1. He Had Showbiz In His Blood
Larry Martin Hagman was born in September of 1931 in Fort Worth, Texas—but his real birthplace might as well have been center stage. His mother, Mary Martin, who wasn’t even 18 when Hagman was born, would go on to become a Broadway superstar. Unfortunately, his childhood was more of a tragedy than a musical.
John Springer Collection, Getty Images
2. He Was A Child Of Divorce
Hagman’s childhood wasn’t all glitz and glam. In 1936, when he was just five years old, his parents split up, and sent him to live with his maternal grandmother, Juanita Presley Martin. As his mother’s Hollywood career took off, little Hagman bounced between Texas and California. Even in his own home, he had little more than a supporting role.
CBS Radio-Columbia Broadcasting System, Wikimedia Commons
3. He Had A Famous Stepfather
In 1940, Hagman’s mother took on another role when she married the producer Richard Halliday. When his mother and stepfather welcomed a daughter, Heller, Hagman knew that he would only ever get second billing. As his mother’s new family settled into New York City, Hagman could only watch from California. Then tragedy struck.
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4. He Lost His Biggest Supporter
Hagman’s grandmother had been his only supporter. But, when she passed, the teenage Hagman had no choice but to move to New York City to be with his mother and her new family. However, he didn’t stay long. By 1946, he was back in Texas, finishing high school in Weatherford.
It wouldn’t be long before the bright lights called him back.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
5. He Followed In His Mother’s Spotlight
For a while, it looked like Hagman’s strained relationship with his mother had turned him off of show business. However, after taking to the stage in high school, he learned that he had more in common with his mother than he knew. After high school, he went off to Bard College, majoring in dance and drama.
After just one year, however, he dropped out, leaving his future in question.
6. He Cut His Teeth In The Theater
Even after dropping out of Bard College, Hagman didn’t waste time getting his feet wet in the acting world. In 1950, he started working in the theater, juggling various gigs, from working as a production assistant to performing in The Taming of the Shrew. By 1951, he even joined his mother in the London production of South Pacific.
But just as Hagman’s acting career began to take off, fate intervened.
7. He Performed For His Country
In 1952, Hagman was drafted into the United States Air Force. But instead of flying combat missions, he spent most of his service entertaining troops across Europe and the UK. It was just the kind of acting boot camp that he needed—not to mention the place where he discovered his true love.
8. He Had A Love That Lasted A Lifetime
While in England, Hagman found the love of his life: Swedish-born Maj Axelsson. After a brief courtship, the two married in 1954 and built a life together, eventually raising two children. The couple would remain married for the rest of their lives—even as powerful forces tried to pull them apart.
9. He Was A Broadway Star
After his service ended in 1956, Hagman returned to New York City with an even greater zeal for performing. Slowly, he began building a name for himself independent of his famous mother in off-Broadway productions like Once Around the Block. By 1958, he made his Broadway debut in Comes a Day. His day was certainly coming—sooner than he knew.
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10. He Became A Sitcom Star
Hagman’s big break came in 1965 when he landed the role of Air Force Captain Tony Nelson on I Dream of Jeannie. As the lovable, straight-laced astronaut who discovers a mischievous genie after a failed mission, Hagman quickly became a household name. But his breakout role almost went to someone else.
11. He Wasn’t Really The First Choice
Hagman wasn’t the only actor dreaming of Jeannie. With Bewitched and My Favorite Martian already dominating the airwaves, the studio was desperate for a hit of their own. Executives considered as many as four other actors for the role of Tony Nelson before settling on Hagman. They very nearly regretted their decision.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
12. He Was Almost Replaced
To audiences, Hagman’s Tony Nelson was an affable astronaut with a twinkle in his eye. But behind the scenes of I Dream of Jeannie, it was a different story. Hagman could be so difficult to work with that the show’s producers seriously considered a wish of their own: replacing Hagman! In fact, he was closer to getting canned than he knew.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
13. He Was About To Lose His “Genie”
Given Hagman’s abrasive personality and the competition from other networks, I Dream of Jeannie producers began wishcasting, hoping to give the role to veteran actor Darren McGavin. In fact, the show writers had already written Hagman out of the show with a plotline that would have seen Hagman’s character losing Jeannie to McGavin’s new character.
Fortunately for Hagman, the studio ultimately changed its mind. But that didn’t make Hagman any easier to work with.
14. He Was Sloshed The Entire Time
Years later, Hagman made a shocking confession: he had filmed I Dream of Jeannie’s episodes while plastered. And his struggles with the bottle weren’t exactly a secret, either. Barbara Eden, who played Jeannie in the series, wrote in her memoir: “Larry himself has made no secret about the fact he was taking [substances]…and that he has regrets about how that impacted him”.
It wasn’t all bad, though.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
15. He Had A Real-Life Genie
For all of Hagman’s troubles on set, there was one person who never turned against him; his real-life genie, Barbara Eden. Despite Hagman’s off-screen troubles, Eden later said that she never had an acting partner with whom she shared such an effortless connection. Their comedic timing and chemistry were second to none and the two maintained a close personal friendship.
Though, there were times when even Hagman couldn’t stand his own company.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
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16. He Hated His Character
While I Dream of Jeannie made him a star, Hagman had one big problem: He didn’t actually like the show. In her memoir, Eden revealed that Hagman strongly disliked show writer Sidney Sheldon’s scripts and often clashed with the writing team. However, from the sounds of it, Hagman actually knew better than the writers.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
17. He Cast His Last Wish
As the years rolled by, Hagman was ready to make his last wish. He warned the studio that having his character marry Jeannie would take some of the magic out of the show—and he was right. Shortly thereafter, the show’s ratings began to crater and the network decided to cut its losses and syndicate the show. But it wasn’t the end.
NBC, I Dream of Jeannie (1965-1970)
18. He Wasn’t Welcome Back
When NBC tried to resurrect I Dream of Jeannie with reunion movies, fans quickly noticed that something was missing: Tony Nelson himself. Hagman was conspicuously absent from the much-anticipated movies. He later revealed that the studio never even asked him to return to the role that made him famous.
In all fairness to the studio, few people could work with Hagman.
ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons
19. He Was A Little Nutty
Hagman’s reputation for being difficult to work with haunted him long after I Dream of Jeannie got shoved back into its bottle. While filming Mother, Jugs & Speed, Hagman would show up to set wearing outlandish costumes such as an astronaut or a WWI general. The film’s writer, Tom Mankiewicz called Hagman “totally nuts”.
Fortunately, “totally nuts” was just the kind of vibe that would bring him his next big role.
Twentieth Century, Mother, Jugs & Speed (1976)
20. He Almost Starred In The Wrong Show
In 1978, Hagman found himself at a career crossroads. He had two offers on the table: one for The Waverly Wonders, a familiar sitcom that would have seen him delivering laughs just as he had before. The other offer was for a prime-time soap opera called Dallas in which Hagman would have to portray the unscrupulous and ruthless JR Ewing.
His decision changed TV history.
21. He Knew The Role Was His
After reading the script for The Waverly Wonders, Hagman was ready to jump into another sitcom. But his wife insisted that he read the other script on his desk—Dallas. And the minute he did, he was hooked. Hagman knew that he could bring JR Ewing to life, borrowing from the real-life ruthless businessman he had worked for decades earlier.
If he really wanted the role, however, he’d have to work for it.
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22. He Wasn't The First Choice
Despite the real-world experience that he brought to the role, Hagman wasn't the producers’ first pick for JR Ewing. Initially, the showrunners offered the role to Robert Foxworth, but he turned it down, claiming the character was too ruthless. However, it was this same ruthlessness that Hagman portrayed so well.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
23. He Became A Worldwide Sensation
With Hagman rounding out the cast of characters, Dallas wasn’t just a hit when it premiered; it became an international cultural phenomenon. Even members of the British royal family shamelessly tuned in to watch what dirty tricks JR Ewing was getting up to that week. The show's success would eventually lead to multiple spin-offs and firmly cemented Hagman as a TV legend.
He had no problem throwing his weight around.
24. He Fought For His Co-Star
By the mid-1980s, Dallas was one of the most successful shows on air. So, Linda Gray, who played Sue Ellen in the series, demanded a pay raise along with the opportunity to direct episodes just as Hagman was doing. In response, however, the studio fired her—and Hagman wasn't having it.
Unlike his character, Hagman played the role of the hero, insisting that he’d walk if the showrunners didn’t bring Gray back. Suffice to say, they caved. Success, however, had taken its toll.
25. He Drank On The Job
Hagman’s success came at a terrible personal price. He later revealed that, while filming Dallas, his drinking problem from his I Dream of Jeannie days only worsened. While playing the role of JR Ewing, Hagman was consuming up to five bottles of champagne a day. However, what was more impressive was what he claimed next.
26. He Claimed He Never Missed A Beat
His staggering consumption of champagne and other substances aside, Hagman was the consummate professional. Or, at least, that’s what he claimed. Hagman insisted that he never let his drinking affect his work. According to him, he was never absent from set or ruined a take due to being wasted. To his credit, audiences never noticed.
27. He Became The Face Of The Most Famous Cliffhanger Ever
After just a few seasons, Dallas had turned Hagman into one of the most recognizable TV stars in the world. Even as the primary villain, audiences loved to hate him. So, when his character JR Ewing took a shot in the infamous Season 3 finale, audiences around the globe became obsessed with one question: “Who shot JR?”
Audiences almost never learned the answer.
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28. His Salary Nearly Cost Him The Role
Between the Season 3 finale and the Season 4 premiere of Dallas, the “Who shot JR?” craze took over the world. And Hagman—taking after his shrewd businessman character—saw the craze as an opportunity to demand a higher salary. But his plan almost backfired as the contract negotiations dragged on, forcing producers to consider rewriting the show without him.
29. He May Have Shot JR Himself
As Hagman haggled over his salary, the studio had no choice but to move forward. With nervous fans eager to learn the fate of their favorite villain, the studio began filming the fourth season of Dallas—without Hagman. For a time, it looked like the answer to the question, “Who shot JR?” was going to Hagman himself.
30. He Played Hardball
Turns out, Hagman had learned quite a bit about business from his Dallas character, such as how to play hardball. Even as the cameras were rolling on Season 4 of the hit soap opera drama, Hagman took a vacation to London, proving to the studio that they needed him more than he needed them. Only time would tell if his gamble would pay off.
31. He Became One Of TV’s Highest-Paid Stars
Hagman knew his worth and wasn’t afraid to make the studio sweat as he chilled out in London. Just as he had expected, the studio caved to his demands. With a (much) higher salary, Hagman flew back to the US in time to appear in the final moments of the season premiere. As one of the highest-paid TV actors, he was in rare form.
32. He Was A Momma’s Boy
On-screen, JR Ewing constantly clashed with his mother, Miss Ellie. Off-screen, however, Hagman had a deep respect for his TV mom, Barbara Bel Geddes. He was one of the few cast members who genuinely cared about her well-being, particularly as she battled health issues. However, things turned sour between the two.
33. He Turned Against His Friend
Hagman’s power on the Dallas set grew with every season—and so did his ego. By the show’s final years, his once-strong relationship with Geddes had soured. Hagman had become highly protective of the show’s scripts and direction, leading to clashes with Geddes behind the scenes and her eventual departure from the show.
Geddes didn’t let it go at that.
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34. He Betrayed His TV Mom
For Geddes, the spat with Hagman wasn’t just professional—it was personal. She accused Hagman of stabbing her in the back, claiming, “I’ve been betrayed by the person I thought was my best friend”. After leaving the show at the end of Season 13, Hagman was the only cast member who never kept in touch with her.
He didn’t get much for backstabbing his bestie.
35. He Was Nominated—But Never Won
Despite being the face of one of the biggest TV shows in history, Hagman received little credit—apart from his giant paycheck. Hagman was nominated twice for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1980 and 1981. However, he walked away both times empty-handed. He had a prize of a different kind.
36. He Took Acid
Champagne wasn’t Hagman’s only vice. Going back to 1969, Hagman had been using another, even more potent, substance. His friend, the legendary musician David Crosby, introduced him to acid following one of his shows. The psychedelic experience left a lasting mark on Hagman, altering his perspective on life so profoundly that he later called it one of the defining moments of his existence.
He was almost always high.
Eddi Laumanns, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
37. He Was A Fan Of Mary Jane
As much as Hagman loved his champagne, even he had to admit it was taking a toll on his health. That’s when another one of his famous friends, Jack Nicholson, suggested a “healthier” alternative: marijuana. Hagman took to the magical leaf immediately, preferring the mellow high and the lack of brutal hangovers that came with his usual drinking binges.
He could barely keep quiet about it.
38. He Liked Getting High
Despite being a member of a 12-step program, Hagman didn’t think weed deserved the same stigma as other hard substances. He openly promoted the substance as a safer, better alternative to drinking—a position that was in stark contrast to his on-screen persona. Sadly, however, his years of drinking had already caught up with him.
39. He Turned Over A New Leaf—And Liver
By 1995, despite turning over a new “leaf," decades of poor habits had caught up to Hagman in the worst way imaginable. His doctors gave him devastating news: He had liver cancer and only a transplant could save his life. Given that he had consumed champagne like water for 40 years, it was a medical miracle that he even made it to the operating table.
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40. His Health Was Still No Good
Hagman’s drinking had already done serious damage long before his liver cancer diagnosis. In 1992, three years before his transplant, doctors had diagnosed him with cirrhosis of the liver. His years of indulgence proved to have devastating consequences, and the situation would only get worse as time went on.
41. He Wanted To Fire His Agent
In 2002, long after his Dallas fame, Hagman made a guest appearance on the British comedy panel show Shooting Stars—and immediately regretted it. Faced with absurd questions and bizarre antics from the hosts, Hagman looked visibly confused throughout the show. At one point, Hagman was so frustrated that he said that he was going to fire his agent.
But then he couldn’t have gotten the role of a lifetime.
BBC Two, Shooting Stars (1993-2011)
42. He Liked To Be The Bad Guy
Decades after Dallas ended, Hagman was more than happy to slip back into JR Ewing’s signature cowboy hat. In 2012, he reprised his role in TNT’s revival of Dallas. Relishing the idea of playing the show’s scheming villain once more, Hagman said with a grin, “Of course it’s fun to play the villain”.
Unfortunately, villains don’t get happy endings.
43. He Was Doing What He Loved
Just as he was preparing to return as JR Ewing, Hagman received the worst news of his life. After having overcome liver cancer and a transplant surgery, his doctors informed him that he had stage 2 throat cancer in June 2011. Ever the showman, Hagman embraced the challenge, saying, “I could not think of a better place to be than working on a show I love, with people I love”.
That wasn’t the end of his health struggles.
44. He Had Something On His Tongue
Hagman’s poor health led him down a perilous road—one filled with some pretty scary medical procedures. His cancer led to a tumor on his tongue. Fortunately, his doctors were able to remove it, and by June 2012, he was reportedly in remission, giving fans hope that the legendary actor still had plenty of fight left in him.
Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
45. He Was Diagnosed with Another Life-Threatening Illness
Just weeks after celebrating his cancer remission, Hagman was dealt yet another devastating blow. In July 2012, doctors diagnosed him with myelodysplastic syndrome, a serious blood disorder once called “preleukemia”. The news marked yet another health battle for the actor, and left fans wondering how many times he could cheat the Grim Reaper.
CLS Digital Arts, Shutterstock
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46. He Passed In Dallas
After decades of defying the odds, on November 23, 2012, Hagman made his last wish and took his final bow. Complications from his latest diagnosis of myeloid leukemia ended his life at Medical City Dallas Hospital. Unlike his character in Dallas, however, Hagman’s family ensured that he received a hero’s farewell.
47. His Family Said Their Goodbyes
Though he played a villain on TV—and sometimes acted like one in real life—Hagman’s final days were spent surrounded by family and close friends. In a statement shortly after he drew his final breath, Hagman’s family shared a touching message, saying that Hagman had passed “surrounded by loved ones”.
They ended their statement by saying, “It was a peaceful passing, just as he had wished for”.
Tabercil, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
48. He Left Dallas In A Ditch
Hagman’s unexpected passing left the Dallas reboot scrambling. His character, JR Ewing, had been central to the story, and the showrunners hadn’t planned on writing him off anytime soon. Heartbroken, the show’s writers had to quickly come up with a way to say goodbye to television’s most legendary oil tycoon. What they did was simply groundbreaking.
49. He Acted From Beyond The Grave
In an effort to keep Hagman alive on screen, Dallas’ producers scoured through every bit of footage and audio they had of the late actor to craft a proper send-off. In the end, they dug up unused scenes and audio of Hagman, digitally altered them, and then spliced them together to bring Hagman back to life long enough to give his character a proper send-off.
And what a character it was.
50. He Was One of TV’s Greatest Villains
For decades, Hagman’s portrayal of JR Ewing set the gold standard for TV villains. Even his off-screen behavior became the subject of intense scrutiny, for better or worse. Upon his passing, The New York Times honored him with the ultimate compliment, summing up his life’s achievements when they called him “one of television’s most beloved villains”.
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